'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the regulator's chair
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "major concern" and the independent regulator is seeking powers to look into club affairs in such situations, the newly appointed chairman the official has declared.
In a wide-ranging interview, Kogan, who was recently selected, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
The chairman convened with four supporter groups representing the Championship side in recent days.
The football club have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on five separate occasions, including in September.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a significant problem for EFL and a major challenge for the sport," the chairman stated.
"The club represents one of the historic institutions for the English game and this week we have met supporters' organizations.
"We're now looking to get powers... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at Hillsborough, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in earlier this year led to sanctions by the football authorities in mid-year, preventing the club from carrying out any player acquisitions for the next three transfer windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
The chairman stated: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the Owls followers, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a community organization that has been part of their lives in many cases.
"I have absolute sympathy for the club's situation, as I do for every team that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."
Inquired if the oversight body could require an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, Kogan said: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we assemble the facts and know what's going on, we will."
But the regulator clarified that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be treated as a "last resort" and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.
"Our least desirable course of action is start getting involved with an specific team, an particular chairman, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the problems affecting the organization and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of the sport, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, not many, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually decline to assume obligation for the coming years."
Owls fans have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to lay out the remit of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "progressive gathering" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved might evaporate swiftly," the chairman stated.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.
"Considerable investment coming into football and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to maintain a focused outlook on challenges and obviously, of the coming seasons."
Elite Division Worries
Top flight officials resisted the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I fully support the success and growth as an commercial operation of the Premier League.
"Being fully aware of the apprehension regarding damaging the Premier League as a premium product of England. But concurrently, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a high level of reassurance -and, indeed, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
Kogan is still facing a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in the past.
The chairman contributed funds to Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that ideological connection terminated the day the official body endorsed my nomination," the chairman stated.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
